Assembly of God Leader Visits International Offices
Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assembly of God denomination, spent a day in Cleveland, Tennessee, speaking in an employee chapel service and visiting with church leaders.
It was the first trip to the international headquarters for Wood, who leads the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, based in Springfield, Missouri. The U.S. Assemblies of God is part of a larger World Assemblies of God fellowship with a membership of over 62 million. Wood was elected chief executive officer at the 52nd General Council of the Assemblies in August 2007. Dr. Wood also serves as chairman of the World Assemblies of God fellowship as he was elected to that position at its meeting in Lisbon, Portugal in May, 2008. The church has over 12,300 congregations in the United States with nearly 2.9 million members and adherents.
George Wood speaks to the employees at the international offices on July 13, 2011.
“As organizations working for the kingdom, we’re better together, than apart, “Wood said to the audience in the service which took place on Wednesday morning at the international offices chapel. He remarked that both organizations (Church of God and Assemblies of God) are deeply rooted in missions.
“There are many principles of harvest,” Wood said in his brief remarks. “One, is if you don’t sow, there won’t be a harvest.” The son of missionary parents to China and Tibet, Wood referred to his testimony growing up in the Asian country and how it seemed that the seeds his parents sowed in ministry did not bear fruit until he discovered a few years ago that indeed, what his parents began many decades ago, had produced thousands of souls saved and multiple church plants. A similar discovery came when he followed up on their ministry in a rural section of Indiana.
“You reap more than you sow and it is sometimes later than you sow…but you have to keep sowing,” Wood concluded. “Let us not be weary in doing good.”
Following the chapel service, Wood met with the Church of God Executive Committee, toured the international offices, the campus of Lee University, and met with Pentecostal Theological President Dr. Steve Land.
Superintendent Wood holds a doctoral degree in pastoral theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a juris doctorate from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. He did his undergraduate work at Evangel University (College) in Springfield, Missouri, and served the college in several capacities, including being director of spiritual life and student life from 1965-71. He was ordained by the Southern Missouri District in 1967.
Prior to his present position, Wood served the church as its general secretary for 14 years. He was assistant superintendent of the Southern California District from 1988-93. Wood pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, California, for 17 years.
Dr. Wood is author of a number of books including his most recent Living in the Spirit along with A Psalm In Your Heart, Living Fully, The Successful Life, and a college text on the Book of Acts. Sermons by Dr. Wood may be heard at www.georgeowood.com.
